The Race to Energy Independence:
Top Retired Military Leaders & Race Car Driver Leilani Munter Talk Energy Efficiency & National Security

Independence, MO – September 29, 2010: America’s national security can be enhanced if we adopt a national energy policy that establishes higher standards for fuel efficiency that will reduce our dependence on oil, says leading national security experts from Operation Free and stock car racing driver Leilani Munter.

Munter and Operation Free have teamed up for “The Race to Energy Independence,” a collaborative effort to promote an improved clean energy and climate policy by partnering together for the Kansas Lottery 150 ARCA race at Kansas Speedway on Sept. 30. At a kick-off event today at the Truman Library in Independence, Munter and Operation Free leaders discussed their partnership and the need for higher fuel efficiency standards and clean energy policies that enhance our energy and national security.

“What we know now is that our climate is changing and impacting our national security but our energy policy remains the same: over reliance on oil and old energy sources and not enough emphasis on higher standards, cleaner energy sources and innovation that improves our national security by decreasing our reliance on oil,” said Jonathan Powers, COO of the Truman National Security Project. “It’s time for Congress to stop burying its head in oil-rich Middle East sand and move America forward with investment in clean energy innovation and sources of energy produced domestically.

“The goal of our partnership and the reason I want to work with Operation Free is that we need to raise awareness about the threats posed by our current energy policy and we are working together to reach the millions of race fans with our message that clean energy is good for America,” said Leilani Munter, driver of the #59 Operation Free Dodge Charger. “The veterans at Operation Free are concerned about our long term national security and energy security and they want to connect with racing fans.”

Today’s event at the Truman Library brought together a group of veterans and citizens to discuss our energy policies and the drive to set fuel efficiency standards at 60 mpg by the year 2025. Operation Free veterans have been promoting fuel efficiency standards at town hall events and tele-town halls in events across the country including Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida and Missouri. They’ve sponsored Leilani’s car for the Kansas Lottery 150 to extend their message to race fans. The race will be televised live on Thursday afternoon and reach 79 million homes across the country.

About Leilani Munter

Leilani Munter is a biology graduate turned race car driver and environmental and clean energy activist. Leilani has been named one of the Top Ten Female Drivers in the World by Sports Illustrated. When not racing, Leiliani spends her time on environmental causes like clean energy, pollution reduction and sustainability. Since 2007, every time Leilani races, she adopts an acre of rain forest to offset her carbon footprint. Leilani holds a degree in biology from the University of California in San Diego. She is a model, an activist and one of the fastest women in the world. Learn more at: http://www.leilanimunter.com/